Control channel resource grouping and spatial relation configuration

ABSTRACT

Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide techniques for control channel resource grouping and spatial relation configuration. Aspects of the present disclosure provide a method of wireless communication by a user equipment (UE). The method generally includes receiving an indication of one or more groupings of one or more control channel resources within a configured bandwidth. Each grouping is associated with a spatial relation. The UE applies a spatial relation for a control channel transmission using one or more control channel resources in a grouping of the one or more groupings. The grouping is associated with the spatial relation.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.16/803,590, filed Feb. 27, 2020, which claims benefit of and priority toU.S. Provisional Application No. 62/842,375, filed May 2, 2019, whichare hereby assigned to the assignee hereof and hereby expresslyincorporated by reference herein in their entirety as if fully set forthbelow and for all applicable purposes.

INTRODUCTION

Aspects of the present disclosure relate to wireless communications, andmore particularly, to techniques for control channel resourceconfiguration.

Wireless communication systems are widely deployed to provide varioustelecommunication services such as telephony, video, data, messaging,broadcasts, etc. These wireless communication systems may employmultiple-access technologies capable of supporting communication withmultiple users by sharing available system resources (e.g., bandwidth,transmit power, etc.). Examples of such multiple-access systems include3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Long Term Evolution (LTE)systems, LTE Advanced (LTE-A) systems, code division multiple access(CDMA) systems, time division multiple access (TDMA) systems, frequencydivision multiple access (FDMA) systems, orthogonal frequency divisionmultiple access (OFDMA) systems, single-carrier frequency divisionmultiple access (SC-FDMA) systems, and time division synchronous codedivision multiple access (TD-SCDMA) systems, to name a few.

These multiple access technologies have been adopted in varioustelecommunication standards to provide a common protocol that enablesdifferent wireless devices to communicate on a municipal, national,regional, and even global level. New radio (e.g., 5G NR) is an exampleof an emerging telecommunication standard. NR is a set of enhancementsto the LTE mobile standard promulgated by 3GPP. NR is designed to bettersupport mobile broadband Internet access by improving spectralefficiency, lowering costs, improving services, making use of newspectrum, and better integrating with other open standards using OFDMAwith a cyclic prefix (CP) on the downlink (DL) and on the uplink (UL).To these ends, NR supports beamforming, multiple-input multiple-output(MIMO) antenna technology, and carrier aggregation.

However, as the demand for mobile broadband access continues toincrease, there exists a need for further improvements in NR and LTEtechnology. Preferably, these improvements should be applicable to othermulti-access technologies and the telecommunication standards thatemploy these technologies.

SUMMARY

The systems, methods, and devices of the disclosure each have severalaspects, no single one of which is solely responsible for its desirableattributes. Without limiting the scope of this disclosure as expressedby the claims which follow, some features will now be discussed briefly.After considering this discussion, and particularly after reading thesection entitled “Detailed Description” one will understand how thefeatures of this disclosure provide advantages that include improvedcontrol channel resource grouping and spatial relation configuration.

Certain aspects provide a method for wireless communication by a userequipment (UE). The method generally includes receiving an indication ofone or more groupings of one or more control channel resources within aconfigured bandwidth. Each grouping is associated with a spatialrelation. The method generally includes applying a spatial relation fora control channel transmission using one or more control channelresources in a grouping of the one or more groupings. The grouping isassociated with the spatial relation.

In some examples, the one or more control channel resources comprisephysical uplink control channel (PUCCH) resources. In some examples, atleast one of the one or more groupings comprises any subset of the PUCCHresources within the configured bandwidth. In some examples, theconfigured bandwidth comprises at least one bandwidth part (BWP).

In some examples, the indication is an explicit indication. In someexamples, the indication of the one or more groupings is received viaone or more bitmaps. In some examples, the one or more bitmaps indicatePUCCH identifiers (IDs) included in the one or more of the groupings. Insome examples, the method includes receiving an indication of one ormore updated spatial relations and receiving, for each updated spatialrelation, one or more bitmaps or PUCCH IDs associated with at least oneof the one or more groupings. In some examples, receiving the one ormore bitmaps or PUCCH IDs includes receiving a plurality of bitmaps orPUCCH IDs associated with a plurality of groupings, of the one or moregroupings, for at least one of the one or more updated spatialrelations. In some examples, the indication of the one or more updatedspatial relations, the one or more bitmaps, or both is received via amedium access control (MAC) control element (CE).

In some examples, the indication is an implicit indication. In someexamples, the indication of the one or more groupings is received viaradio resource control (RRC) signaling. In some examples, the RRCsignaling indicates, for each PUCCH resource, an associated spatialrelation. The PUCCH resources having a same indicated spatial relationindicates a grouping. In some examples, the method includes receiving anindication of one or more updated spatial relations and receiving, foreach updated spatial relation, one or more previously indicated spatialrelations or one or more PUCCH IDs associated with at least one groupingof the one or more of the groupings. In some examples, receiving the oneor more previously indicated spatial relations or one or more PUCCH IDsincludes receiving a plurality of previously indicated spatial relationsor a plurality of PUCCH IDs associated with a plurality of groupings forat least one updated spatial relation indication. In some examples, theindication of the one or more updated spatial relations, the one or morepreviously indicated spatial relations or one or more PUCCH IDs, orboth, is received via a MAC-CE.

Certain aspects provide a method for wireless communication by a basestation (BS). The method generally includes sending an indication to aUE of one or more groupings of one or more control channel resourceswithin a configured bandwidth. Each grouping is associated with aspatial relation. The method generally includes receiving a controlchannel transmission, from the UE, using one or more control channelresources in a grouping, of the one or more groupings. The controlchannel transmission is based on the spatial relation associated withthe grouping.

Certain aspects provide an apparatus for wireless communication. Theapparatus generally includes means for receiving an indication of one ormore groupings of one or more control channel resources within aconfigured bandwidth. Each grouping is associated with a spatialrelation. The apparatus generally includes means for applying a spatialrelation for a control channel transmission using one or more controlchannel resources in a grouping of the one or more groupings. Thegrouping is associated with the spatial relation.

Certain aspects provide an apparatus for wireless communication. Theapparatus generally includes means for sending an indication to anotherapparatus of one or more groupings of one or more control channelresources within a configured bandwidth. Each grouping is associatedwith a spatial relation. The apparatus generally includes means forreceiving a control channel transmission, from the another apparatus,using one or more control channel resources in a grouping, of the one ormore groupings. The control channel transmission is based on the spatialrelation associated with the grouping.

Certain aspects provide an apparatus for wireless communication. Theapparatus generally includes a memory and at least one processor coupledwith the memory. The memory and at least one processor are generallyconfigured to receive an indication of one or more groupings of one ormore control channel resources within a configured bandwidth. Eachgrouping is associated with a spatial relation. The memory and at leastone processor are generally configured to apply a spatial relation for acontrol channel transmission using one or more control channel resourcesin a grouping of the one or more groupings. The grouping is associatedwith the spatial relation.

Certain aspects provide an apparatus for wireless communication. Theapparatus generally includes a memory and at least one processor coupledwith the memory. The memory and at least one processor are generallyconfigured to send an indication to another apparatus of one or moregroupings of one or more control channel resources within a configuredbandwidth. Each grouping is associated with a spatial relation. Thememory and at least one processor are generally configured to receive acontrol channel transmission, from the another apparatus, using one ormore control channel resources in a grouping, of the one or moregroupings. The control channel transmission is based on the spatialrelation associated with the grouping.

Certain aspects provide a computer readable medium storing computerexecutable code thereon. The computer readable medium generally includescode for receiving an indication of one or more groupings of one or morecontrol channel resources within a configured bandwidth. Each groupingassociated with a spatial relation. The computer readable mediumgenerally includes code for applying a spatial relation for a controlchannel transmission using one or more control channel resources in agrouping of the one or more groupings. The grouping is associated withthe spatial relation.

Certain aspects provide a computer readable medium storing computerexecutable code thereon. The computer readable medium generally includescode for sending an indication to a UE of one or more groupings of oneor more control channel resources within a configured bandwidth. Eachgrouping is associated with a spatial relation. The computer readablemedium generally includes code for receiving a control channeltransmission, from the UE, using one or more control channel resourcesin a grouping, of the one or more groupings. The control channeltransmission is based on the spatial relation associated with thegrouping.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the one or moreaspects comprise the features hereinafter fully described andparticularly pointed out in the claims. The following description andthe appended drawings set forth in detail certain illustrative featuresof the one or more aspects. These features are indicative, however, ofbut a few of the various ways in which the principles of various aspectsmay be employed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

So that the manner in which the above-recited features of the presentdisclosure can be understood in detail, a more particular description,briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to aspects, some ofwhich are illustrated in the drawings. It is to be noted, however, thatthe appended drawings illustrate only certain typical aspects of thisdisclosure and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope,for the description may admit to other equally effective aspects.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram conceptually illustrating an exampletelecommunications system, in accordance with certain aspects of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram conceptually illustrating a design of anexample base station (BS) and user equipment (UE), in accordance withcertain aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3A is an example new radio frame format, in accordance with certainaspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3B is an example grouping of control channel resources in aconfigured bandwidth, in accordance with certain aspects of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 3C is an example indication of control channel resource grouping(s)and spatial relation, in accordance with certain aspects of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 3D is an example channel state information (CSI-RS) referencesignal reception with a UE receive beam, in accordance with certainaspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3E is an example physical uplink control channel (PUCCH)transmission with a UE transmit beam according to a spatial relationassociated with the control channel resource grouping, in accordancewith certain aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating example operations for wirelesscommunication by a UE, in accordance with certain aspects of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating example operations for wirelesscommunication by a BS, in accordance with certain aspects of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 6 is a call flow diagram illustrating example control channelresource grouping and spatial relation configuration, in accordance withcertain aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a call flow diagram illustrating another example controlchannel resource grouping and spatial relation configuration, inaccordance with certain aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 illustrates a communications device that may include variouscomponents configured to perform operations for the techniques disclosedherein in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 illustrates a communications device that may include variouscomponents configured to perform operations for the techniques disclosedherein in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

To facilitate understanding, identical reference numerals have beenused, where possible, to designate identical elements that are common tothe figures. It is contemplated that elements disclosed in one aspectmay be beneficially utilized on other aspects without specificrecitation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Some systems, such as certain new radio systems (e.g., 5G NR systems),allow for one or more groupings of control channel resources in aconfigured frequency bandwidth, such as a frequency range. The controlchannel resources may refer to time and/or frequency resourcesconfigured for use for control channel transmission. For example, thegroupings of control channel resources may be referred to as one or morephysical uplink control channel (PUCCH) groupings (or groups) within atleast one bandwidth part (BWP), such as a frequency range, configured ata user equipment (UE). For example, one or more control channelresources of a configured BWP may be included in a grouping. A BWP mayrefer to the bandwidth over which the UE is configured for communicating(e.g., using a certain numerology in a set of consecutive resourceblocks (RBs)). The UE may be configured with multiple BWPs, which may beactive or inactive at a given time. A grouping of control channelresources may be a group, set, subset, collection, combination, or poolof control channel resources.

The one or more groupings of control channel resources may be associatedwith a spatial relation (e.g., meaning the same spatial relation can beapplied for all of the control channel resources in the grouping). Insome examples, a spatial relation associated with a grouping indicates arelation between the control channel resources of the grouping andanother signal, such as a channel state information reference signal(CSI-RS), synchronization signal block (SSB), and/or a soundingreference signal (SRS). The spatial relation may indicate to a UE to usea same spatial beam (e.g., transmit beam and/or the same set of weightswhen performing beamforming) to transmit the control channel resourcesof the grouping as used for receiving the corresponding related signal(e.g., the CSI-RS, SSB, SRS).

Aspects of the present disclosure provide apparatus, methods, processingsystems, and computer readable mediums for the control channel resourcegrouping and spatial relation configuration, including spatial relationupdates for control channel resource groupings.

In certain aspects, a grouping of control channel resources (e.g., suchas one or more PUCCHs) can be configured (e.g., signaled, indicated,and/or updated) at a UE together (e.g., simultaneously, or in at leastpartially overlapping time resources) with configuration and/or anupdate of the spatial relation for the grouping. By configuring and/orupdating the spatial relation for groupings together, the overhead forconfiguring the spatial relations for the groupings may be reduced. Forexample, rather than updating the spatial relation for each PUCCHindividually, such as using separate medium access control controlelements (MAC-CEs), a base station (BS) can send a single MAC-CE toupdate the spatial relation for a group, or groups, of PUCCHs.

In some examples, one grouping may include all PUCCH within a BWP and/ormultiple BWPs. However, finer, more flexible, grouping involving anycombination of the control channel resources may be used, as well astechniques for signaling (e.g., indicating and/or updating) thegroupings and the associated spatial relations. In some examples, onegrouping may include a subset of PUCCH within a BWP.

In some examples, the groupings may be explicitly indicated to the UE,such as by a bitmap indicating the control channel resources in a group.For example, bits in the bitmap may indicate the control channelresources in a grouping, and a spatial relation can be signaled with thebitmap indicating the spatial relation associated with the grouping. Insome examples, the groupings of control channel resources may beimplicitly indicated, such as by the configuration (e.g., via higherlayer signaling such as radio resource control (RRC) signaling) of thespatial relations or PUCCH IDs for the control channel resources. Forexample, control channel resources configured with the same spatialrelation or PUCCH ID may be considered (e.g., assumed/determined) as agrouping.

The following description provides examples of control channel resourcegrouping and spatial relation configuration, and is not limiting of thescope, applicability, or examples set forth in the claims. Changes maybe made in the function and arrangement of elements discussed withoutdeparting from the scope of the disclosure. Various examples may omit,substitute, or add various procedures or components as appropriate. Forinstance, the methods described may be performed in an order differentfrom that described, and various steps may be added, omitted, orcombined. Also, features described with respect to some examples may becombined in some other examples. For example, an apparatus may beimplemented or a method may be practiced using any number of the aspectsset forth herein. In addition, the scope of the disclosure is intendedto cover such an apparatus or method which is practiced using otherstructure, functionality, or structure and functionality in addition to,or other than, the various aspects of the disclosure set forth herein.It should be understood that any aspect of the disclosure disclosedherein may be embodied by one or more elements of a claim. The word“exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example, instance, orillustration.” Any aspect described herein as “exemplary” is notnecessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over otheraspects.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example wireless communication network 100 inwhich aspects of the present disclosure may be performed. In someexamples, the wireless communication network 100 may be an NR system(e.g., a 5G NR network). As shown in FIG. 1 , the wireless communicationnetwork 100 may be in communication with a core network 132. The corenetwork 132 may be in communication with one or more base station (BSs)110 and/or user equipments (UEs) 120 in the wireless communicationnetwork 100 via one or more interfaces.

As illustrated in FIG. 1 , the wireless communication network 100 mayinclude a number of BSs 110 a-z (each also individually referred toherein as BS 110 or collectively as BSs 110) and other network entities.Each BS 110 may provide communication coverage for a particulargeographic area, sometimes referred to as a “cell”, which may bestationary or may move according to the location of a mobile BS 110. Insome examples, the BSs 110 may be interconnected to one another and/orto one or more other network nodes (not shown) in wireless communicationnetwork 100 through various types of backhaul interfaces (e.g., a directphysical connection, a wireless connection, a virtual network, or thelike) using any suitable transport network. In the example shown in FIG.1 , the BSs 110 a, 110 b and 110 c may be macro BSs for the macro cells102 a, 102 b and 102 c, respectively. The BS 110 x may be a pico BS fora pico cell 102 x. The BSs 110 y and 110 z may be femto BSs for thefemto cells 102 y and 102 z, respectively. A BS 110 may support one ormultiple cells. The BSs 110 communicate with user equipment (UEs) 120a-y (each also individually referred to herein as UE 120 or collectivelyas UEs 120) in the wireless communication network 100. The UEs 120(e.g., 120 x, 120 y, etc.) may be dispersed throughout the wirelesscommunication network 100, and each UE 120 may be stationary or mobile.

As shown in FIG. 1 , the UE 120 a includes a spatial relation manager122. The spatial relation manager 122 may be configured to receive anindication of one or more groupings of one or more control channelresources within a configured bandwidth, each grouping being associatedwith a spatial relation, in accordance with certain aspects of thepresent disclosure. The spatial relation manager 122 may be configuredto apply a spatial relation for a control channel transmission usingcontrol channel resources in a grouping, of the one or more indicatedgroupings. The grouping is associated with the spatial relation. Asshown in FIG. 1 , the BS 110 a includes a spatial relation manager 112.The spatial relation manager 112 may be configured to send an indicationto UE 120 a of one or more groupings of one or more control channelresources within a configured bandwidth, each grouping being associatedwith a spatial relation, in accordance with certain aspects of thepresent disclosure. The spatial relation manager 112 may be configuredto receive a control channel transmission, from the UE 120 a, usingcontrol channel resources in a grouping of the one or more indicatedgroupings. The control channel transmission is based on spatial relationassociated with the grouping.

Wireless communication network 100 may also include relay stations(e.g., relay station 110 r), also referred to as relays or the like,that receive a transmission of data and/or other information from anupstream station (e.g., a BS 110 a or a UE 120 r) and sends atransmission of the data and/or other information to a downstreamstation (e.g., a UE 120 or a BS 110), or that relays transmissionsbetween UEs 120, to facilitate communication between devices.

A network controller 130 may couple to a set of BSs 110 and providecoordination and control for these BSs 110. The network controller 130may communicate with the BSs 110 via a backhaul.

FIG. 2 illustrates example components of a BS and a UE, such as the BS110 a and the UE 120 a in the wireless communication network 100 of FIG.1 , which may be used to implement aspects of the present disclosure.For example, antennas 252, processors 266, 258, 264, and/orcontroller/processor 280 of the UE 120 a and/or antennas 234, processors220, 230, 238, and/or controller/processor 240 of the BS 110 a may beused to perform the various techniques and methods described herein.

At the BS 110 a, a transmit processor 220 may receive data from a datasource 212 and control information from a controller/processor 240. Thecontrol information may be for the physical broadcast channel (PBCH),physical control format indicator channel (PCFICH), physical hybrid ARQindicator channel (PHICH), PDCCH, group common PDCCH (GC PDCCH), etc.The data may be for the physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH), etc.The processor 220 may process (e.g., encode and symbol map) the data andcontrol information to obtain data symbols and control symbols,respectively. The transmit processor 220 may also generate referencesymbols, such as for the primary synchronization signal (PSS), secondarysynchronization signal (SSS), and cell-specific reference signal (CRS).A transmit (TX) multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) processor 230 mayperform spatial processing (e.g., precoding) on the data symbols, thecontrol symbols, and/or the reference symbols, if applicable, and mayprovide output symbol streams to the modulators (MODs) 232 a-232 t. Eachmodulator 232 may process a respective output symbol stream (e.g., forOFDM, etc.) to obtain an output sample stream. Each modulator mayfurther process (e.g., convert to analog, amplify, filter, andupconvert) the output sample stream to obtain a downlink signal.Downlink signals from modulators 232 a-232 t may be transmitted via theantennas 234 a-234 t, respectively.

At the UE 120 a, the antennas 252 a-252 r may receive the downlinksignals from the BS 110 a and may provide received signals to thedemodulators (DEMODs) in transceivers 254 a-254 r, respectively. Eachdemodulator 254 may condition (e.g., filter, amplify, downconvert, anddigitize) a respective received signal to obtain input samples. Eachdemodulator may further process the input samples (e.g., for OFDM, etc.)to obtain received symbols. A MIMO detector 256 may obtain receivedsymbols from all the demodulators 254 a-254 r, perform MIMO detection onthe received symbols if applicable, and provide detected symbols. Areceive processor 258 may process (e.g., demodulate, deinterleave, anddecode) the detected symbols, provide decoded data for the UE 120 a to adata sink 260, and provide decoded control information to acontroller/processor 280.

On the uplink, at UE 120 a, a transmit processor 264 may receive andprocess data (e.g., for the physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH)) froma data source 262 and control information (e.g., for the PUCCH) from thecontroller/processor 280. The transmit processor 264 may also generatereference symbols for a reference signal (e.g., for the SRS). Thesymbols from the transmit processor 264 may be precoded by a TX MIMOprocessor 266 if applicable, further processed by the demodulators intransceivers 254 a-254 r (e.g., for SC-FDM, etc.), and transmitted tothe BS 110 a. At the BS 110 a, the uplink signals from the UE 120 a maybe received by the antennas 234, processed by the modulators 232,detected by a MIMO detector 236 if applicable, and further processed bya receive processor 238 to obtain decoded data and control informationsent by the UE 120 a. The receive processor 238 may provide the decodeddata to a data sink 239 and the decoded control information to thecontroller/processor 240.

The controllers/processors 240 and 280 may direct the operation at theBS 110 a and the UE 120 a, respectively. The memories 242 and 282 maystore data and program codes for BS 110 a and UE 120 a, respectively. Ascheduler 244 may schedule UEs for data transmission on the downlinkand/or uplink. As shown in FIG. 2 , the controller/processor 280 of theUE 120 a has a spatial relation manager 281 that may be configured forreceiving an indication of one or more groupings of one or more controlchannel resources within a configured bandwidth, each grouping beingassociated with a spatial relation. The spatial relation manager 281 maybe configured to apply a spatial relation for a control channeltransmission using control channel resources in a grouping, of the oneor more indicated groupings. The spatial relation is associated with thegrouping, according to aspects described herein. As shown in FIG. 2 ,the controller/processor 240 of the BS 110 a has a spatial relationmanager 241 that may be configured for sending an indication to the UE120 a of one or more groupings of one or more control channel resourceswithin a configured bandwidth, each grouping being associated with aspatial relation. The spatial relation manager 241 may be configured toreceive a control channel transmission, from the UE 120 a, using controlchannel resources in a grouping of the one or more indicated groupings.The control channel transmission is based on a spatial relationassociated with the grouping, according to aspects described herein.

FIG. 3A is a diagram showing an example of a frame format 300 for NR.The transmission timeline for each of the downlink and uplink may bepartitioned into units of radio frames. Each radio frame may have apredetermined duration (e.g., 10 ms) and may be partitioned into 10subframes, each of 1 ms, with indices of 0 through 9. Each subframe mayinclude a variable number of slots (e.g., 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, . . . slots)depending on the subcarrier spacing (SCS). Each slot may include avariable number of symbol periods (e.g., 7 or 14 symbols) depending onthe SCS. The symbol periods in each slot may be assigned indices. Amini-slot, which may be referred to as a sub-slot structure, refers to atransmit time interval having a duration less than a slot (e.g., 2, 3,or 4 symbols). Each symbol in a slot may indicate a link direction(e.g., DL, UL, or flexible) for data transmission and the link directionfor each subframe may be dynamically switched. The link directions maybe based on the slot format. Each slot may include DL/UL data as well asDL/UL control information.

As mentioned above, aspects of the present disclosure relate to controlchannel grouping and spatial relation configuration. In certain systems(e.g., NR systems), beam forming may be applied to certaintransmissions. For uplink beamforming transmission, a UE (e.g., such asthe UE 120 a in the wireless communication network 100) may beconfigured with a spatial relation. The spatial relation may be used todetermine the uplink transmit (TX) beam for the UE to use fortransmitting. In some examples, the spatial relation indicates arelation between the uplink transmission and another signal, such as adownlink reference signal. The spatial relation may tell the UE to usethe uplink beam to transmit the uplink transmission that corresponds tothe receive beam used to receive the corresponding related downlinksignal at the UE. In some cases, the UE may be configured with a set ofthe spatial relations, and another signal, such as medium access control(MAC) control element (CE), can be used to activate one of theconfigured spatial relations.

Example Control Channel Resource Grouping and Spatial RelationConfiguration

Aspects of the present disclosure provide apparatus, methods, processingsystems, and computer readable mediums for control channel resourcegrouping and spatial relation configuration, including spatial relationupdates for control channel resource groupings.

In some cases, control channel resources, such as physical uplinkcontrol channels (PUCCHs), that use a same spatial relation may beincluded in a grouping and can be signaled together (e.g.,simultaneously) to configure and/or update the spatial relationassociated with the grouping. This may reduce overhead for configuringthe spatial relations for PUCCHs. For example, rather than updating thespatial relation for each PUCCH individually, such as using separatemedium access control control elements (MAC-CEs), a base station (B S)can send a single MAC-CE to update the spatial relation for a group, orgroups, of PUCCHs.

Aspects of the disclosure provide techniques that may allow for flexiblyconfiguring groupings, as well as techniques for configuring andupdating the associated spatial relations.

The control channel resource groupings can include groupings of any ofthe control channel resources in at least the configured bandwidth. Insome examples, a bandwidth part (BWP) may include multiple groupings,where the groupings include a subset of the control channel resources inthe BWP. In some examples, a grouping may include all of the controlchannel resources in one BWP. In some examples, a grouping may includecontrol channel resources from multiple BWPs. In some examples, thegroupings may be indicated explicitly to a user equipment (UE). In someexamples, the groupings of control channel resources may be implicitlyindicated to the UE.

In an illustrative example, as shown in FIG. 3A, a subframe may includea channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) transmissiontransmitted from a BS to a UE. The UE may measure the CSI-RS and send aCSI report in PUCCH. The UE may determine the beam used for the PUCCHtransmission based on the grouping to which the PUCCH belongs, and thespatial relation associated with the grouping.

As shown in FIG. 3B, the UE may be configured with a bandwidth, such asbandwidth part (BWP) 302 that includes control channel resources, suchas PUCCHs 303, 304, 305, 306, 307, and 309. The BS 310 mayconfigure/signal the UE 308 with a grouping of the control channelresources as shown in FIG. 3C. For example, as shown in FIG. 3B, the BS310 may configure/signal the PUCCHs 303, 304, and 305 as a firstgrouping and PUCCHs 306, 307, and 309 as a second grouping. As shown inFIG. 3C, the BS 310 also configures/signals a spatial relationassociated with the groupings. For example, the first grouping of PUCCHs303, 304, and 305 may have a first spatial relation associated with a DLCSI-RS and the second grouping of PUCCHs 306, 307, and 309 may have asecond spatial relation associated with a DL CSI-RS. Based on thecontrol channel resources used for PUCCH transmission, the UE 308 and BS310 can determine the associated spatial relation to use for the PUCCHtransmission.

Based on the spatial relation applied, the UE 308 can determine thetransmit beam to use for sending the PUCCH, and the BS 310 can determinethe receive beam to use for receiving the PUCCH. For example, as shownin FIG. 3D, the UE 308 may receive a CSI-RS from the BS 310 via thereceive beam 312. Thus, as shown in FIG. 3E, the UE 308 sends the PUCCHtransmission using the transmit 314 according to the spatial relationassociated with the reception of the CSI-RS with the receive beam 312.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating example operations 400 forwireless communication, in accordance with certain aspects of thepresent disclosure. The operations 400 may be performed, for example, bya UE such as a UE 120 a in the wireless communication network 100.Operations 400 may be implemented as software components that areexecuted and run on one or more processors (e.g., controller/processor280 of FIG. 2 ). Further, the transmission and reception of signals bythe UE 120 a in operations 400 may be enabled, for example, by one ormore antennas (e.g., antennas 252 of FIG. 2 ). In certain aspects, thetransmission and/or reception of signals by the UE 120 a may beimplemented via a bus interface of one or more processors (e.g.,controller/processor 280) obtaining and/or outputting signals.

The operations 400 may begin, at 405, by receiving an indication of oneor more groupings of one or more control channel resources within aconfigured bandwidth. Each grouping is associated with a spatialrelation. In some examples, the one or more control channel resourcesinclude PUCCH resources. For example, the one or more groupings maycorrespond to one or more groupings of PUCCHs.

According to certain aspects, a grouping can be any set of controlchannel resources within at least one configured bandwidth (e.g., aconfigured portion of available system bandwidth). In some examples, atleast one of the one or more groupings, indicated at 405, includes asubset of the PUCCHs within the configured bandwidth. The configuredbandwidth may include at least one BWP. In some examples, one or more ofthe groupings may correspond to all of the PUCCHs in one BWP. In someexamples, one or more of the groupings may correspond to PUCCHs frommultiple BWPs.

According to certain aspects, the groupings may be indicated explicitly.For example, a bitmap may be used to indicate selected control channelresources as included in a grouping. The indication of the one or moregroupings, received at 405, may be received via a bitmap or via multiplebitmaps (e.g., such as one bitmap per grouping). The bitmap may indicatePUCCH identifiers (IDs) of PUCCHs included in at least one of the one ormore of the groupings.

In some examples, the UE 120 a may receive an indication of one or moreupdated spatial relations and receive, for each updated spatialrelation, one or more bitmaps or PUCCH IDs associated with at least oneof the one of the one or more groupings. For example, to update multiplegroupings (e.g., simultaneously) with the updated spatial relation, theUE 120 a receives the indication of the new (e.g., updated) spatialrelation along with a plurality of bitmaps or PUCCH IDs associated witha plurality of groupings, of the one or more groupings, for at least oneof the one or more updated spatial relations. Accordingly, the UE 120 aupdates the spatial relation for each of the plurality of groupings tobe the new spatial relation. In some examples, the indication of the oneor more updated spatial relations, the one or more bitmaps or PUCCH IDs,or both is received via a MAC-CE (e.g., a single MAC-CE).

According to certain aspects, the groupings may be indicated implicitly.For example, a grouping may be defined as control channel resourcesconfigured with a same spatial relation. In some examples, theindication of the one or more groupings, received at 405, is receivedvia radio resource control (RRC) signaling. For example, the RRCsignaling may indicate (e.g., configure), for each PUCCH, an associatedspatial relation or group ID. The PUCCHs that are configured with thesame spatial relation or group ID may be considered as a grouping.

In some examples, the UE 120 a may receive an indication of one or moreupdated (e.g., new) spatial relations and receive, for each updatedspatial relation, one or more previously indicated (e.g., old) spatialrelations or one or more PUCCH IDs associated with at least one groupingof the one or more of the groupings. Thus, based on the grouping(s)associated with the indicated old spatial relation(s), the UE 120 a mayknow (e.g., determine) that those grouping(s) are to be updated with theindicated new spatial relation. In the case of PUCCH IDs, based on thegrouping(s) associated with the indicated PUCCH ID(s), the UE 120 a mayknow (e.g., determine) that the grouping(s) are to be updated with theindicated new spatial relation. In some examples, to update multiplegroupings (e.g., simultaneously) with the updated spatial relation, theUE 120 a may receive a plurality of previously indicated spatialrelations or a plurality of PUCCH IDs associated with a plurality ofgroupings for at least one updated spatial relation indication. In someexamples, the indication of the one or more updated spatial relations,the one or more previously indicated spatial relations or one or morePUCCH IDs, or both, is received via a MAC-CE (e.g., a single MAC-CE). Insome examples, the MAC-CE includes the one or more bitmaps. In someexamples, the MAC-CE includes an indication of one or more preconfiguredbitmaps (e.g., the MAC-CE may indicate an index of a preconfiguredbitmap).

At 410, the UE 120 a applies a spatial relation for a control channeltransmission using control channel resources in a grouping of the one ormore groupings. The grouping is associated with the spatial relation.For example, the UE 120 a may use an uplink TX beam for the controlchannel (e.g., PUCCH) transmission that is determined based on thespatial relation that is associated with grouping to which the controlchannel resource(s) used for the control channel transmission belongs.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating example operations 500 forwireless communication, in accordance with certain aspects of thepresent disclosure. The operations 500 may be performed, for example, bya BS such as a BS 110 a in the wireless communication network 100. Theoperations 500 may be complimentary operations by the BS 110 a to theoperations 400 performed by the UE 120 a. Operations 500 may beimplemented as software components that are executed and run on one ormore processors (e.g., controller/processor 240 of FIG. 2 ). Further,the transmission and reception of signals by the BS 110 a in operations500 may be enabled, for example, by one or more antennas (e.g., antennas234 of FIG. 2 ). In certain aspects, the transmission and/or receptionof signals by the BS 110 a may be implemented via a bus interface of oneor more processors (e.g., controller/processor 240) obtaining and/oroutputting signals.

The operations 500 may begin, at 505, by sending an indication to a UE(e.g., such as the UE 120 a) of one or more groupings of one or morecontrol channel resources within a configured bandwidth. Each groupingis associated with a spatial relation. A grouping of control channelresources may be a group, set, subset, collection, combination, or poolof control channel resources.

As discussed herein, a grouping, indicated at 505, may include any setor subset of control channel resources (e.g., PUCCHs) within at leastone configured bandwidth (e.g., a BWP). The one or more groupings,indicated at 505, may be indicated explicitly (e.g., via a bitmap) orimplicitly (e.g., via configured spatial relations or PUCCH IDs).Spatial relations for the groupings may be indicated/updated (e.g., viaMAC-CE), by indicating the updated spatial relation along with anindication of the groupings to be updated with the new spatial relation,such as by indicating the bitmaps, PUCCH IDs, or old spatial relationsassociated with groupings to be updated.

At 510, the BS 110 a receives a control channel transmission, from theUE (e.g., UE 120 a), using control channel resources in a grouping ofthe one or more groupings. The control channel transmission is based ona spatial relation associated with the grouping. For example, thecontrol channel transmission may be scheduled by the BS 110 a on the oneor more control channel resources. Based on the scheduled controlchannel resources, the BS 110 a may know (e.g., determine) the UE 120 awill apply the spatial relation associated with the grouping to whichthe scheduled control channel resource(s) belong, for the controlchannel transmission. Thus, the BS 110 a may monitor for the controlchannel transmission using a RX beam associated with the uplink TX beamassociated with that spatial relation. In some examples, the BS 110 amay select a RX beam to use for the control channel transmission basedon the uplink TX used by the UE 120 a.

FIG. 6 is a call flow 600 diagram illustrating example control channelresource grouping and spatial relation configuration, in accordance withcertain aspects of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 6 , at 606,a UE 602 (e.g., such as the UE 120 a) may receive a PUCCH configurationfor a BWP from a BS 604 (e.g., such as the BS 110 a). In some examples,the PUCCH configuration may be received by RRC signaling and/or downlinkcontrol information (DCI). At 608, the UE 602 may receive a MAC-CE withan updated spatial relation and one or more bitmaps. For example, theMAC-CE, received at 608, may include the bitmaps or PUCCH IDs associatedwith the PUCCH groupings to be updated with the updated spatialrelation. At 610, the UE 602 may receive a physical downlink controlchannel (PDCCH) scheduling a PUCCH transmission. At 612, the UE 602 maydetermine the spatial relation to apply for the PUCCH transmission. Forexample, the PDCCH may schedule the resources to be used for the PUCCHtransmission. Based on the grouping to which the scheduled resourcesbelong, the UE 602 can determine the spatial relation associated withthat grouping. Thus, at 614, the UE 602 sends the PUCCH according to thedetermined spatial relation. For example, the UE 602 may use an uplinkTX beam based on the determined spatial relation (e.g., using a beamcorresponding to a beam used for a related transmission indicated by thespatial relation).

FIG. 7 is a call flow 700 diagram illustrating another example controlchannel resource grouping and spatial relation configuration, inaccordance with certain aspects of the present disclosure.

As shown in FIG. 7 , at 706, a UE 702 (e.g., such as the UE 120 a) mayreceive a PUCCH configuration for a BWP from a BS 704 (e.g., such as theBS 110 a). In some examples, the PUCCH configuration may be received byRRC signaling and/or DCI. At 708, the UE 702 may receive RRC signalingconfiguring spatial relations associated with the configured PUCCH(s).At 710, the UE 702 may determine PUCCH groupings. For example, based onthe spatial relations configured for the PUCCH(s), the UE 702 candetermine PUCCHs configured with a same spatial relation to be in agrouping. At 712, the UE 702 may receive a MAC-CE with an updatedspatial relation and associated old spatial relation(s) or PUCCH ID(s).For example, the MAC-CE, received at 712, may include the old spatialrelations (e.g., configured at 708) or PUCCH IDs (which may beconfigured at 706) associated with the PUCCH groupings to be updatedwith the updated spatial relation. At 714, the UE 702 may receive aPDCCH scheduling a PUCCH transmission. At 716, the UE 702 may determinethe spatial relation to apply for the PUCCH transmission. For example,the PDCCH may schedule the resources to be used for the PUCCHtransmission. Based on the grouping to which the scheduled resourcesbelong, the UE 702 can determine the spatial relation associated withthat grouping. Thus, at 718, the UE 702 sends the PUCCH according to thedetermined spatial relation. For example, the UE 702 may use an uplinkTX beam based on the determined spatial relation (e.g., using a beamcorresponding to a beam used for a related transmission indicated by thespatial relation).

FIG. 8 illustrates a communications device 800 that may include variouscomponents (e.g., corresponding to means-plus-function components)configured to perform operations for the techniques disclosed herein forcontrol channel resource grouping and spatial relation configuration,such as the operations illustrated in FIG. 4 . The communications device800 includes a processing system 802 coupled to a transceiver 808. Thetransceiver 808 is configured to transmit and receive signals for thecommunications device 800 via an antenna 810, such as the varioussignals as described herein. The processing system 802 may be configuredto perform processing functions for the communications device 800,including processing signals received and/or to be transmitted by thecommunications device 800.

The processing system 802 includes a processor 804 coupled to acomputer-readable medium/memory 812 via a bus 806. In certain aspects,the computer-readable medium/memory 812 is configured to storeinstructions (e.g., computer-executable code) that when executed by theprocessor 804, cause the processor 804 to perform the operationsillustrated in FIG. 4 , or other operations for performing the varioustechniques discussed herein for control channel resource grouping andspatial relation configuration. In certain aspects, computer-readablemedium/memory 812 stores code 814 for receiving an indication of one ormore groupings of one or more control channel resources within aconfigured bandwidth, each grouping being associated with a spatialrelation, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure; and code816 for applying a spatial relation for a control channel transmissionas indicated in the indication, in accordance with aspects of thepresent disclosure. In certain aspects, the processor 804 has circuitryconfigured to implement the code stored in the computer-readablemedium/memory 812. The processor 804 includes circuitry 818 forreceiving an indication of one or more groupings of one or more controlchannel resources within a configured bandwidth, each grouping beingassociated with a spatial relation; and circuitry 820 for applying aspatial relation for a control channel as indicated in the indication,in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 illustrates a communications device 900 that may include variouscomponents (e.g., corresponding to means-plus-function components)configured to perform operations for the techniques disclosed herein forcontrol channel resource grouping and spatial relation configuration,such as the operations illustrated in FIG. 5 . The communications device900 includes a processing system 902 coupled to a transceiver 908. Thetransceiver 908 is configured to transmit and receive signals for thecommunications device 900 via an antenna 910, such as the varioussignals as described herein. The processing system 902 may be configuredto perform processing functions for the communications device 900,including processing signals received and/or to be transmitted by thecommunications device 900.

The processing system 902 includes a processor 904 coupled to acomputer-readable medium/memory 912 via a bus 906. In certain aspects,the computer-readable medium/memory 912 is configured to storeinstructions (e.g., computer-executable code) that when executed by theprocessor 904, cause the processor 904 to perform the operationsillustrated in FIG. 5 , or other operations for performing the varioustechniques discussed herein for control channel resource grouping andspatial relation configuration. In certain aspects, computer-readablemedium/memory 912 stores code 914 for sending an indication to a UE ofone or more groupings of one or more control channel resources within aconfigured bandwidth, each grouping being associated with a spatialrelation, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure; and code916 for receiving a control channel transmission from the UE based on aspatial relation associated with the control channel, in accordance withaspects of the present disclosure. In certain aspects, the processor 904has circuitry configured to implement the code stored in thecomputer-readable medium/memory 912. The processor 904 includescircuitry 918 for sending an indication to a UE of one or more groupingsof one or more control channel resources within a configured bandwidth,each grouping being associated with a spatial relation; and circuitry920 for receiving a control channel transmission from the UE based on aspatial relation associated with the control channel, in accordance withaspects of the present disclosure.

Example Aspects

In a first aspect, a method for wireless communication by a userequipment (UE) includes receiving an indication of one or more groupingsof one or more control channel resources within a configured bandwidth.Each grouping is associated with a spatial relation. The UE applies aspatial relation for a control channel transmission using one or morecontrol channel resources in a grouping of the one or more groupings.The grouping is associated with the spatial relation.

In a second aspect, in combination with the first aspect, the one ormore control channel resources are physical uplink control channel(PUCCH) resources.

In a third aspect, in combination with one or more of the first andsecond aspects, at least one of the one or more groupings includes asubset of one or more control channel resources within the configuredbandwidth.

In a fourth aspect, in combination with one or more of the first throughthird aspects, the configured bandwidth is a bandwidth part (BWP).

In a fifth aspect, in combination with one or more of the first throughfourth aspects, receiving the indication of the one or more groupingsincludes receiving an explicit indication of the one or more groupings.

In a sixth aspect, in combination with one or more of the first throughfifth aspects, the indication of the one or more groupings is receivedvia one or more bitmaps.

In a seventh aspect, in combination with one or more of the firstthrough sixth aspects, the one or more bitmaps indicate physical uplinkcontrol channel (PUCCH) identifiers (IDs) of the control channelresources included in the one or more groupings.

In an eighth aspect, in combination with one or more of the firstthrough seventh aspects, the UE receives an indication of one or moreupdated spatial relations and the UE receives, for each updated spatialrelation, one or more bitmaps or PUCCH identifiers (IDs) associated withat least one of the one of the one or more groupings.

In a ninth aspect, in combination with one or more of the first througheighth aspects, receiving the one or more bitmaps or PUCCH IDs includesreceiving a plurality of bitmaps or PUCCH IDs associated with aplurality of groupings, of the one or more groupings, for at least oneof the one or more updated spatial relations.

In a tenth aspect, in combination with one or more of the first throughninth aspects, the indication of the one or more updated spatialrelations, the one or more bitmaps or PUCCH IDs, or both is received viaa medium access control (MAC) control element (CE).

In an eleventh aspect, in combination with one or more of the firstthrough tenth aspects, the indication of the one or more groupings is animplicit indication.

In a twelfth aspect, in combination with one or more of the firstthrough eleventh aspects, the indication of the one or more groupings isreceived via radio resource control (RRC) signaling.

In a thirteenth aspect, in combination with one or more of the firstthrough twelfth aspects, the RRC signaling indicates, for each PUCCHresource, an associated spatial relation. The PUCCH resources having asame indicated spatial relation implicitly indicates a grouping.

In a fourteenth aspect, in combination with one or more of the firstthrough thirteenth aspects, the RRC signaling indicates, for each PUCCHresource, an associated group identifier (ID). The PUCCH resourceshaving a same indicated group ID implicitly indicates a grouping.

In a fifteenth aspect, in combination with one or more of the firstthrough fourteenth aspects, the UE receives an indication of one or moreupdated spatial relations and the UE receives, for each updated spatialrelation, one or more previously indicated spatial relations or one ormore physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) identifiers (IDs)associated with at least one grouping of the one or more of thegroupings.

In a sixteenth aspect, in combination with one or more of the firstthrough fifteenth aspects, receiving the one or more previouslyindicated spatial relations or one or more PUCCH IDs includes receivinga plurality of previously indicated spatial relations or a plurality ofPUCCH IDs associated with a plurality of groupings for at least oneupdated spatial relation indication.

In a seventeenth aspect, in combination with one or more of the firstthrough sixteenth aspects, the indication of the one or more updatedspatial relations, the one or more previously indicated spatialrelations or one or more PUCCH IDs, or both, is received via a mediumaccess control (MAC) control element (CE).

In an eighteenth aspect, a method for wireless communication by a basestation (BS) includes sending an indication to a user equipment (UE) ofone or more groupings of one or more control channel resources within aconfigured bandwidth. Each grouping is associated with a spatialrelation. The BS receives a control channel transmission, from the UE,using one or more control channel resources in a grouping, of the one ormore groupings. The control channel transmission is based on the spatialrelation associated with the grouping.

In a nineteenth aspect, in combination with the eighteenth aspect, atleast one of the one or more groupings comprises a subset of one or morecontrol channel resources within the configured bandwidth.

In a twentieth aspect, in combination with one or more of the eighteenthand nineteenth aspects, the configured bandwidth includes at least onebandwidth part (BWP).

In a twenty-first aspect, in combination with one or more of theeighteenth through twentieth aspects, sending the indication of the oneor more groupings includes sending an explicit indication of the one ormore groupings.

In a twenty-second aspect, in combination with one or more of theeighteenth through twenty-first aspects, the indication of the one ormore groupings is sent via one or more bitmaps.

In a twenty-third aspect, in combination with one or more of theeighteenth through twenty-second aspects, the one or more bitmapsindicate physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) identifiers (IDs)included in the one or more of the groupings.

In a twenty-fourth aspect, in combination with one or more of theeighteenth through twenty-third aspects, the indication of the one ormore groupings is an implicit indication.

In a twenty-fifth aspect, in combination with one or more of theeighteenth through twenty-fourth aspects, the indication of the one ormore groupings is radio resource control (RRC) signaling indicating, foreach control channel resource, an associated spatial relation. Thecontrol channel resources having a same indicated spatial relationindicates a grouping.

In a twenty-sixth aspect, in combination with one or more of theeighteenth through twenty-fifth aspects, the BS sends an indication ofone or more updated spatial relations and the BS receives, for eachupdated spatial relation, one or more previously indicated spatialrelations or one or more PUCCH identifiers (IDs) associated with atleast one grouping of the one or more of the groupings.

In a twenty-seventh aspect, in combination with one or more of theeighteenth through twenty-sixth aspects, sending the one or morepreviously indicated spatial relations or one or more PUCCH IDs includessending a plurality of previously indicated spatial relations or aplurality of PUCCH IDs associated with a plurality of groupings for atleast one updated spatial relation indication.

In a twenty-eighth aspect, in combination with one or more of theeighteenth through twenty-seventh aspects, the indication of the one ormore groupings includes radio resource control (RRC) signalingindicating, for each control channel resource, an associated groupidentifier (ID). The control channel resources having a same indicatedgroup ID implicitly indicates a grouping.

The techniques described herein may be used for various wirelesscommunication technologies, such as NR (e.g., 5G NR), 3GPP Long TermEvolution (LTE), LTE-Advanced (LTE-A), code division multiple access(CDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA), frequency divisionmultiple access (FDMA), orthogonal frequency division multiple access(OFDMA), single-carrier frequency division multiple access (SC-FDMA),time division synchronous code division multiple access (TD-SCDMA), andother networks. The terms “network” and “system” are often usedinterchangeably. A CDMA network may implement a radio technology such asUniversal Terrestrial Radio Access (UTRA), cdma2000, etc. UTRA includesWideband CDMA (WCDMA) and other variants of CDMA. cdma2000 coversIS-2000, IS-95 and IS-856 standards. A TDMA network may implement aradio technology such as Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM).An OFDMA network may implement a radio technology such as NR (e.g. 5GRA), Evolved UTRA (E-UTRA), Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB), IEEE 802.11(Wi-Fi), IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX), IEEE 802.20, Flash-OFDMA, etc. UTRA andE-UTRA are part of Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS). LTEand LTE-A are releases of UMTS that use E-UTRA. UTRA, E-UTRA, UMTS, LTE,LTE-A and GSM are described in documents from an organization named “3rdGeneration Partnership Project” (3GPP). cdma2000 and UMB are describedin documents from an organization named “3rd Generation PartnershipProject 2” (3GPP2). NR is an emerging wireless communications technologyunder development.

The techniques described herein may be used for the wireless networksand radio technologies mentioned above as well as other wirelessnetworks and radio technologies. For clarity, while aspects may bedescribed herein using terminology commonly associated with 3G, 4G,and/or 5G wireless technologies, aspects of the present disclosure canbe applied in other generation-based communication systems.

In general, any number of wireless networks may be deployed in a givengeographic area. Each wireless network may support a particular radioaccess technology (RAT) and may operate on one or more frequencies. ARAT may also be referred to as a radio technology, an air interface,etc. A frequency may also be referred to as a carrier, a subcarrier, afrequency channel, a tone, a subband, etc. Each frequency may support asingle RAT in a given geographic area in order to avoid interferencebetween wireless networks of different RATs. In some cases, NR or 5G RATnetworks may be deployed.

In 3GPP, the term “cell” can refer to a coverage area of a Node B (NB)and/or a NB subsystem serving this coverage area, depending on thecontext in which the term is used. In NR systems, the term “cell” andBS, next generation NodeB (gNB or gNodeB), access point (AP),distributed unit (DU), carrier, or transmission reception point (TRP)may be used interchangeably. A BS may provide communication coverage fora macro cell, a pico cell, a femto cell, and/or other types of cells. Amacro cell may cover a relatively large geographic area (e.g., severalkilometers in radius) and may allow unrestricted access by UEs withservice subscription. A pico cell may cover a relatively smallgeographic area and may allow unrestricted access by UEs with servicesubscription. A femto cell may cover a relatively small geographic area(e.g., a home) and may allow restricted access by UEs having anassociation with the femto cell (e.g., UEs in a Closed Subscriber Group(CSG), UEs for users in the home, etc.). A BS for a macro cell may bereferred to as a macro BS. A BS for a pico cell may be referred to as apico BS. A BS for a femto cell may be referred to as a femto BS or ahome BS.

A UE may also be referred to as a mobile station, a terminal, an accessterminal, a subscriber unit, a station, a Customer Premises Equipment(CPE), a cellular phone, a smart phone, a personal digital assistant(PDA), a wireless modem, a wireless communication device, a handhelddevice, a laptop computer, a cordless phone, a wireless local loop (WLL)station, a tablet computer, a camera, a gaming device, a netbook, asmartbook, an ultrabook, an appliance, a medical device or medicalequipment, a biometric sensor/device, a wearable device such as a smartwatch, smart clothing, smart glasses, a smart wrist band, smart jewelry(e.g., a smart ring, a smart bracelet, etc.), an entertainment device(e.g., a music device, a video device, a satellite radio, etc.), avehicular component or sensor, a smart meter/sensor, industrialmanufacturing equipment, a global positioning system device, or anyother suitable device that is configured to communicate via a wirelessor wired medium. Some UEs may be considered machine-type communication(MTC) devices or evolved MTC (eMTC) devices. MTC and eMTC UEs include,for example, robots, drones, remote devices, sensors, meters, monitors,location tags, etc., that may communicate with a BS, another device(e.g., remote device), or some other entity. A wireless node mayprovide, for example, connectivity for or to a network (e.g., a widearea network such as Internet or a cellular network) via a wired orwireless communication link. Some UEs may be consideredInternet-of-Things (IoT) devices, which may be narrowband IoT (NB-IoT)devices.

Certain wireless networks (e.g., LTE) utilize orthogonal frequencydivision multiplexing (OFDM) on the downlink and single-carrierfrequency division multiplexing (SC-FDM) on the uplink. OFDM and SC-FDMpartition the system bandwidth into multiple (K) orthogonal subcarriers,which are also commonly referred to as tones, bins, etc. Each subcarriermay be modulated with data. In general, modulation symbols are sent inthe frequency domain with OFDM and in the time domain with SC-FDM. Thespacing between adjacent subcarriers may be fixed, and the total numberof subcarriers (K) may be dependent on the system bandwidth. Forexample, the spacing of the subcarriers may be 15 kHz and the minimumresource allocation (called a “resource block” (RB)) may be 12subcarriers (or 180 kHz). Consequently, the nominal Fast FourierTransfer (FFT) size may be equal to 128, 256, 512, 1024 or 2048 forsystem bandwidth of 1.25, 2.5, 5, 10, or 20 megahertz (MHz),respectively. The system bandwidth may also be partitioned intosubbands. For example, a subband may cover 1.08 MHz (e.g., 6 RBs), andthere may be 1, 2, 4, 8, or 16 subbands for system bandwidth of 1.25,2.5, 5, 10 or 20 MHz, respectively. In LTE, the basic transmission timeinterval (TTI) or packet duration is the 1 ms subframe.

NR may utilize OFDM with a CP on the uplink and downlink and includesupport for half-duplex operation using TDD. Beamforming may besupported and beam direction may be dynamically configured. MIMOtransmissions with precoding may also be supported. In some examples,MIMO configurations in the DL may support up to 8 transmit antennas withmulti-layer DL transmissions up to 8 streams and up to 2 streams per UE.In some examples, multi-layer transmissions with up to 2 streams per UEmay be supported. Aggregation of multiple cells may be supported with upto 8 serving cells. In NR, a subframe is still 1 ms, but the basic TTIis referred to as a slot. A subframe contains a variable number of slots(e.g., 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, . . . slots) depending on the subcarrier spacing.The NR RB is 12 consecutive frequency subcarriers. NR may support a basesubcarrier spacing of 15 KHz and other subcarrier spacing may be definedwith respect to the base subcarrier spacing, for example, 30 kHz, 60kHz, 120 kHz, 240 kHz, etc. The symbol and slot lengths scale with thesubcarrier spacing. The CP length also depends on the subcarrierspacing.

In some examples, access to the air interface may be scheduled. Ascheduling entity (e.g., a BS) allocates resources for communicationamong some or all devices and equipment within its service area or cell.The scheduling entity may be responsible for scheduling, assigning,reconfiguring, and releasing resources for one or more subordinateentities. That is, for scheduled communication, subordinate entitiesutilize resources allocated by the scheduling entity. Base stations arenot the only entities that may function as a scheduling entity. In someexamples, a UE may function as a scheduling entity and may scheduleresources for one or more subordinate entities (e.g., one or more otherUEs), and the other UEs may utilize the resources scheduled by the UEfor wireless communication. In some examples, a UE may function as ascheduling entity in a peer-to-peer (P2P) network, and/or in a meshnetwork. In a mesh network example, UEs may communicate directly withone another in addition to communicating with a scheduling entity.

In some examples, two or more subordinate entities (e.g., UEs) maycommunicate with each other using sidelink signals. Real-worldapplications of such sidelink communications may include public safety,proximity services, UE-to-network relaying, vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V)communications, Internet of Everything (IoE) communications, IoTcommunications, mission-critical mesh, and/or various other suitableapplications. Generally, a sidelink signal may refer to a signalcommunicated from one subordinate entity (e.g., UE1) to anothersubordinate entity (e.g., UE2) without relaying that communicationthrough the scheduling entity (e.g., UE or BS), even though thescheduling entity may be utilized for scheduling and/or controlpurposes. In some examples, the sidelink signals may be communicatedusing a licensed spectrum (unlike wireless local area networks, whichtypically use an unlicensed spectrum).

As used herein, a phrase referring to “at least one of” a list of itemsrefers to any combination of those items, including single members. Asan example, “at least one of: a, b, or c” is intended to cover a, b, c,a-b, a-c, b-c, and a-b-c, as well as any combination with multiples ofthe same element (e.g., a-a, a-a-a, a-a-b, a-a-c, a-b-b, a-c-c, b-b,b-b-b, b-b-c, c-c, and c-c-c or any other ordering of a, b, and c).

As used herein, the term “determining” encompasses a wide variety ofactions. For example, “determining” may include calculating, computing,processing, deriving, investigating, looking up (e.g., looking up in atable, a database or another data structure), ascertaining and the like.Also, “determining” may include receiving (e.g., receiving information),accessing (e.g., accessing data in a memory) and the like. Also,“determining” may include resolving, selecting, choosing, establishingand the like.

In an LTE or LTE-A network, a set of one or more base stations maydefine an eNodeB (eNB). In other examples (e.g., in a next generation, anew radio (NR), or 5G network), a wireless multiple access communicationsystem may include a number of distributed units (DUs) (e.g., edge units(EUs), edge nodes (ENs), radio heads (RHs), smart radio heads (SRHs),transmission reception points (TRPs), etc.) in communication with anumber of central units (CUs) (e.g., central nodes (CNs), access nodecontrollers (ANCs), etc.), where a set of one or more DUs, incommunication with a CU, may define an access node (e.g., which may bereferred to as a BS, next generation NodeB (gNB or gNodeB), TRP, etc.).A BS or DU may communicate with a set of UEs on downlink channels (e.g.,for transmissions from a BS or DU to a UE) and uplink channels (e.g.,for transmissions from a UE to a BS or DU).

The previous description is provided to enable any person skilled in theart to practice the various aspects described herein. Variousmodifications to these aspects will be readily apparent to those skilledin the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied toother aspects. Thus, the claims are not intended to be limited to theaspects shown herein, but is to be accorded the full scope consistentwith the language of the claims, wherein reference to an element in thesingular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless specificallyso stated, but rather “one or more.” Unless specifically statedotherwise, the term “some” refers to one or more. All structural andfunctional equivalents to the elements of the various aspects describedthroughout this disclosure that are known or later come to be known tothose of ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein byreference and are intended to be encompassed by the claims. Moreover,nothing disclosed herein is intended to be dedicated to the publicregardless of whether such disclosure is explicitly recited in theclaims. No claim element is to be construed under the provisions of 35U.S.C. § 112(f) unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase“means for” or, in the case of a method claim, the element is recitedusing the phrase “step for.”

The various operations of methods described above may be performed byany suitable means capable of performing the corresponding functions.The means may include various hardware and/or software component(s)and/or module(s), including, but not limited to a circuit, anapplication specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or processor. Generally,where there are operations illustrated in figures, those operations mayhave corresponding counterpart means-plus-function components withsimilar numbering.

The various illustrative logical blocks, modules and circuits describedin connection with the present disclosure may be implemented orperformed with a general purpose processor, a digital signal processor(DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a fieldprogrammable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device (PLD),discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or anycombination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein.A general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but in thealternative, the processor may be any commercially available processor,controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processor may also beimplemented as a combination of computing devices, e.g., a combinationof a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one ormore microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other suchconfiguration.

If implemented in hardware, an example hardware configuration maycomprise a processing system in a wireless node. The processing systemmay be implemented with a bus architecture. The bus may include anynumber of interconnecting buses and bridges depending on the specificapplication of the processing system and the overall design constraints.The bus may link together various circuits including a processor,machine-readable media, and a bus interface. The bus interface may beused to connect a network adapter, among other things, to the processingsystem via the bus. The network adapter may be used to implement thesignal processing functions of the PHY layer. In the case of a userterminal (see FIG. 1 ), a user interface (e.g., keypad, display, mouse,joystick, etc.) may also be connected to the bus. The bus may also linkvarious other circuits such as timing sources, peripherals, voltageregulators, power management circuits, and the like, which are wellknown in the art, and therefore, will not be described any further. Theprocessor may be implemented with one or more general-purpose and/orspecial-purpose processors. Examples include microprocessors,microcontrollers, DSP processors, and other circuitry that can executesoftware. Those skilled in the art will recognize how best to implementthe described functionality for the processing system depending on theparticular application and the overall design constraints imposed on theoverall system.

If implemented in software, the functions may be stored or transmittedover as one or more instructions or code on a computer readable medium.Software shall be construed broadly to mean instructions, data, or anycombination thereof, whether referred to as software, firmware,middleware, microcode, hardware description language, or otherwise.Computer-readable media include both computer storage media andcommunication media including any medium that facilitates transfer of acomputer program from one place to another. The processor may beresponsible for managing the bus and general processing, including theexecution of software modules stored on the machine-readable storagemedia. A computer-readable storage medium may be coupled to a processorsuch that the processor can read information from, and write informationto, the storage medium. In the alternative, the storage medium may beintegral to the processor. By way of example, the machine-readable mediamay include a transmission line, a carrier wave modulated by data,and/or a computer readable storage medium with instructions storedthereon separate from the wireless node, all of which may be accessed bythe processor through the bus interface. Alternatively, or in addition,the machine-readable media, or any portion thereof, may be integratedinto the processor, such as the case may be with cache and/or generalregister files. Examples of machine-readable storage media may include,by way of example, RAM (Random Access Memory), flash memory, ROM (ReadOnly Memory), PROM (Programmable Read-Only Memory), EPROM (ErasableProgrammable Read-Only Memory), EEPROM (Electrically ErasableProgrammable Read-Only Memory), registers, magnetic disks, opticaldisks, hard drives, or any other suitable storage medium, or anycombination thereof. The machine-readable media may be embodied in acomputer-program product.

A software module may comprise a single instruction, or manyinstructions, and may be distributed over several different codesegments, among different programs, and across multiple storage media.The computer-readable media may comprise a number of software modules.The software modules include instructions that, when executed by anapparatus such as a processor, cause the processing system to performvarious functions. The software modules may include a transmissionmodule and a receiving module. Each software module may reside in asingle storage device or be distributed across multiple storage devices.By way of example, a software module may be loaded into RAM from a harddrive when a triggering event occurs. During execution of the softwaremodule, the processor may load some of the instructions into cache toincrease access speed. One or more cache lines may then be loaded into ageneral register file for execution by the processor. When referring tothe functionality of a software module below, it will be understood thatsuch functionality is implemented by the processor when executinginstructions from that software module.

Also, any connection is properly termed a computer-readable medium. Forexample, if the software is transmitted from a website, server, or otherremote source using a coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair,digital subscriber line (DSL), or wireless technologies such as infrared(IR), radio, and microwave, then the coaxial cable, fiber optic cable,twisted pair, DSL, or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, andmicrowave are included in the definition of medium. Disk and disc, asused herein, include compact disc (CD), laser disc, optical disc,digital versatile disc (DVD), floppy disk, and Blu-ray® disc where disksusually reproduce data magnetically, while discs reproduce dataoptically with lasers. Thus, in some aspects computer-readable media maycomprise non-transitory computer-readable media (e.g., tangible media).In addition, for other aspects computer-readable media may comprisetransitory computer-readable media (e.g., a signal). Combinations of theabove should also be included within the scope of computer-readablemedia.

Thus, certain aspects may comprise a computer program product forperforming the operations presented herein. For example, such a computerprogram product may comprise a computer-readable medium havinginstructions stored (and/or encoded) thereon, the instructions beingexecutable by one or more processors to perform the operations describedherein, for example, instructions for performing the operationsdescribed herein and illustrated in one or more of FIGS. 4-7 .

Further, it should be appreciated that modules and/or other appropriatemeans for performing the methods and techniques described herein can bedownloaded and/or otherwise obtained by a user terminal and/or basestation as applicable. For example, such a device can be coupled to aserver to facilitate the transfer of means for performing the methodsdescribed herein. Alternatively, various methods described herein can beprovided via storage means (e.g., RAM, ROM, a physical storage mediumsuch as a compact disc (CD) or floppy disk, etc.), such that a userterminal and/or base station can obtain the various methods uponcoupling or providing the storage means to the device. Moreover, anyother suitable technique for providing the methods and techniquesdescribed herein to a device can be utilized.

It is to be understood that the claims are not limited to the preciseconfiguration and components illustrated above. Various modifications,changes and variations may be made in the arrangement, operation anddetails of the methods and apparatus described above without departingfrom the scope of the claims.

1. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising: a memory; and atleast one processor coupled with the memory, the at least one processorconfigured to: receive an indication of one or more groupings of one ormore control channel resources within a configured bandwidth, eachgrouping being associated with a spatial relation; and apply a spatialrelation for a control channel transmission using one or more controlchannel resources in a grouping of the one or more indicated groupings,wherein the grouping is associated with the spatial relation.
 2. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more groupings of one or morecontrol channel resources comprise one or more physical uplink controlchannel (PUCCH) resources.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at leastone of the one or more groupings comprises a subset of control channelresources within the configured bandwidth.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein the configured bandwidth comprises a bandwidth part (BWP). 5.The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor beingconfigured to receive the indication of the one or more groupingscomprises the at least one processor being configured to receive anexplicit indication of the one or more groupings.
 6. The apparatus ofclaim 5, wherein the indication of the one or more groupings is receivedvia one or more bitmaps.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the one ormore bitmaps indicate physical uplink control channel (PUCCH)identifiers (IDs) of the control channel resources included in the oneor more groupings.
 8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the at least oneprocessor is configured to: receive an indication of one or more updatedspatial relations; and receive, for each updated spatial relation, oneor more bitmaps associated with at least one of the one of the one ormore groupings.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the at least oneprocessor being configured to receive the one or more bitmaps or PUCCHIDs comprises the at least one processor configured to receive aplurality of bitmaps associated with a plurality of groupings, of theone or more groupings, for at least one of the one or more updatedspatial relations.
 10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the indicationof the one or more updated spatial relations, the one or more bitmaps,or both, is received via a medium access control (MAC) control element(CE).
 11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the indication of the one ormore groupings comprises an implicit indication.
 12. The apparatus ofclaim 11, wherein the indication of the one or more groupings isreceived via radio resource control (RRC) signaling.
 13. The apparatusof claim 12, wherein the RRC signaling indicates, for each PUCCHresource, an associated spatial relation, and wherein the PUCCHresources having a same indicated spatial relation implicitly indicatesa grouping.
 14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the RRC signalingindicates, for each PUCCH resource, an associated group identifier (ID),and wherein the PUCCH resources having a same indicated group IDimplicitly indicates a grouping.
 15. The apparatus of claim 12, whereinthe at least one processor is configured to: receive an indication ofone or more updated spatial relations; and receive, for each updatedspatial relation, one or more previously indicated spatial relationsassociated with at least one grouping of the one or more groupings. 16.The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the at least one processor beingconfigured to receive the one or more previously indicated spatialrelations comprises the at least one processor being configured toreceive a plurality of previously indicated spatial relations associatedwith a plurality of groupings for at least one updated spatial relationindication.
 17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the indication of theone or more updated spatial relations, the one or more previouslyindicated spatial relations, or both, is received via a medium accesscontrol (MAC) control element (CE).
 18. An apparatus for wirelesscommunication, comprising: a memory; and at least one processor coupledwith the memory and configured to: send an indication to anotherapparatus an indication of one or more groupings of one or more controlchannel resources within a configured bandwidth, each grouping beingassociated with a spatial relation; and receive, from the anotherapparatus, a control channel transmission using one or more controlchannel resources in a grouping, of the one or more indicated groupings,the control channel transmission based on the spatial relationassociated with the grouping.
 19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein atleast one of the one or more groupings comprises a subset of controlchannel resources within the configured bandwidth.
 20. The apparatus ofclaim 18, wherein the configured bandwidth comprises at least onebandwidth part (BWP).
 21. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein theindication of the one or more groupings comprises an explicitindication.
 22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the indication of theone or more groupings is sent via one or more bitmaps.
 23. The apparatusof claim 22, wherein the one or more bitmaps indicate physical uplinkcontrol channel (PUCCH) identifiers (IDs) included in the one or moregroupings.
 24. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the indication of theone or more groupings comprises an implicit indication.
 25. Theapparatus of claim 24, wherein the indication of the one or moregroupings is sent via radio resource control (RRC) signaling indicating,for each control channel resource, an associated spatial relation, andwherein the control channel resources having a same indicated spatialrelation indicates a grouping.
 26. The apparatus of claim 25, whereinthe at least one processor is configured to: send an indication of oneor more updated spatial relations; and receive, for each updated spatialrelation, one or more previously indicated spatial relations associatedwith at least one grouping of the one or more groupings.
 27. Theapparatus of claim 26, wherein the at least one processor beingconfigured to send the one or more previously indicated spatialrelations comprises the at least one processor being configured to senda plurality of previously indicated spatial relations associated with aplurality of groupings for at least one updated spatial relationindication.
 28. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the indication of theone or more groupings is sent via radio resource control (RRC) signalingindicating, for each control channel resource, an associated groupidentifier (ID), and wherein the control channel resources having a sameindicated group ID implicitly indicates a grouping.
 29. A method forwireless communication at a user equipment (UE), comprising: receivingan indication of one or more groupings of one or more control channelresources within a configured bandwidth, each grouping being associatedwith a spatial relation; and applying a spatial relation for a controlchannel transmission using one or more control channel resources in agrouping of the one or more indicated groupings, wherein the grouping isassociated with the spatial relation.
 30. A method for wirelesscommunication at a network entity, comprising: sending an indication ofone or more groupings of one or more control channel resources within aconfigured bandwidth, each grouping being associated with a spatialrelation; and receiving a control channel transmission using one or morecontrol channel resources in a grouping, of the one or more indicatedgroupings, the control channel transmission based on the spatialrelation associated with the grouping.